What kind of shape is the spirituality of your heart in? How can we tell and really know for sure? So many unknowns, endless questions and “things” I cannot fully understand. How do I change it?

I believe the adage is true which goes like this, “The words you speak, reflects what is in your heart.” We see today the bad, the ugly, or simply stated, the lack of love in many individuals today. Many today that are highlighted in the public spot light go from politicians to Fake News and to Hollywood stars. However, we can all see the good and kindness from people from all walks of life. You can hear their words of love and kindness and see it in the actions, and yes, on their face. You may grant me these points, but the overarching questions is “What about me?”

What if I gave you everything? What if I stopped holding back from you? What if I went out of my safety zone; that uncomfortable space that is not mine? What if I truly had to test my trust? No half-baked trust, but the real thing, of giving your all with no turning back or taking it back? Trusting with your all!

Words like trust, love, a God who relentlessly pursues you and forgives you for all your wrongs. Intimacy with God, knowing His presence, experiencing His overwhelming love, all needs to be reflected on. Knowing your nothingness and giving all nothingness to Him, leads the way for you. This is your start!

It may be a time of silence, prayer or music that touches you. Find that time, hopefully in the morning, if even for just 5-10 minutes. Talk to God before you open the day to the world, news, or other people. It is your private quite time. It is your protected space and time. Make the commitment and with patience, hold on and you will know. Make it yours and own it. Remember God doesn’t ask you; you need to ask Him! Let it go, because now you have turned it over to God. Trust Him. It is up to God now. He will not fail you. And yes, keep that dialogue going.

You and your heart will never be alone again. You may even experience a heart that never stops speaking and that is ok, in fact, that is what you want. You may find a smile on your face without even knowing it, or a skip in your step, and an overwhelming feeling of love. And yes, others will notice.

Be happy. Be thankful. Ask God to guide your every step! Embrace “For all You are.”

Finally, for those important people in your life, always share your love, and don’t miss an opportunity to tell them “you love them.”

The thanks we can give back is only pale in what we receive. The joy and love we experience makes our hearts pound with anxious thoughts of doing. Our heart and mind changes, but that is what drives us to do; drives us into action. Our thoughts and words seem to change. The way we look at things is just different and hard to explain and not noticeable to anyone but you. Our conversations with God changes, frequency changes, length changes and nothingness is important. It is not a thought in the morning, but becomes and goes with you throughout the whole day.

Your change is radical, different and internal. It is being hidden from others for now. It is just for you. And then slowly, the thirst becomes stronger while the thirst is being removed. All else is behind you, but with you. Yes, it’s you, but the change that started continues to grow more and more every day. The slow growth still has a thirst that is still not quench. In some cases, and for a period of time, it becomes quiet and dry. Seems lost no matter what you say or how hard you pray. But the change continues, and the trust and faith that was nourished, is needed more to go forward. Finally, the thirst fills and the quite dry is no longer. And the love you knew comes back with overwhelming changes; that now is a love and closeness you have never experienced! A presence around you.

So, what does one do? Yes, continue and let your soul be abandoned to our Lord. Renew that commitment every day. Continue to ask the Lord to “Melt and Mold you”. But also, the simple words need to be said. And repeated as we go forward. The words of “Jesus I love, Jesus I thank you and Jesus I trust in you.”